Underfeed furnace.



N0. 895,765. PATENTED AUG. 11 1908. Y J. E. JONES.

UNDERFEED FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SBPTJ, 1901.

4 SKEETS-SHEET 1.

5.3% ...I\ w} /WMMM NN jw m No; 895,765. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908. I J. EuJONES.

UNDERFEED FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED 'sEBT. 7,;901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 895,765. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

J. E. JONES. UN DERPEED FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5272655, I Even 707' HJ LW PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908. J. E. JONES.

UNDERPEED FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.7,19D1.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' vide novelff.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL EDGARJ ONES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JONES AUTOMATIC STOKER COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

- UNDERFEED FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.- I Application filed September '7, 1901. Serial No. 74,609.

I Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

; 'Cl8.SS ,Ofdevices the greatest efficiency and extent offire surface are obtained, and the power for and cost of operating the fuel-feed mechanism are reduced, by providing organi-- 'zations whereby a portion only .of the fuel .that is forced into t e retort -or fuel-support will be carried through the same, so that an equal distribution of the fuel to the fire will be accom lished. By reducing the capacity of the fee devices along the length ofthe retort or fuel-su port in the direction of the feed, a part on y .of the fuel will be carried to the rear of the retort, and the fuel will be distributed and deposited along the length of the retort in even quantities to maintain a uniform supply throughout the area thereof.

The mainob'ect of my invention is to proflicie'nt means for reducing paeity of the feed devices the carrying.

within the'retort-t'owards the rear thereof, to

accom lish a uniform distribution of the fuel in the hre chamber or retort.

- Another object of my invention is to provide an improved fuel-support or retort having novel deflecting devices, preferably arranged at intervals therein, to facilitate the fiq eding of the fuel to the under side of the Another object is to provide certain improvements in this class of devices relating to the construction of the retort whereby a simple and eflicient organization is stituting an irnprovedform of rnaces.

-.A further obyetofm ginvention is to provide i111 roved rrang ments oftwyer-blocks 'and'airlast devices- Other objects will be apparent from the description hereinafter given, and 'fromjhe functions and operations of the various fe'a:v

tures disclosed.

I -My*-invention consists in the various constructions and organizations of arts as herein described, and as set fort in the .55 claims.

rovided coni In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a furnace embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a top plan view of the furnace of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 1s a transverse sectional-view on line 33 of Fig. 1 with the eonveyer removed, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the conveyer. Fig. 5 is a top-plan view of a detail of the air-supply device, and Fig. 6 is a view in rear elevatlon of the device ofFig. 5.

In carrying out my invention I employ a retort or fuel support'A, of such size and dimensions as may be required for each particular installment, and provided with twyer-blocks B at the top thereof, to which air is supplied through an air-pipe b, and from WhlOlI it asses by lateral openings. The retort, which-is arranged and sup or ted in any suitable manner, consists re erably of a two-part casting, providedwit suitable means for attaching and securing the parts together, as by suitable bolts adapted to the openings a, one side or half of the retort being shown in Fig. 1 and both sides being shown assembled in the other figures. The retort is curved transversely at its bottom, and itsup er portion is formed with up- 'wardly inc med or sloping sides a, so that 1 its width or area in cross-section is increased from the bottom upwardly.

In front of the retort is arranged the usual hopper C, communicating therewith b means of a conduit or neck 0, which is re 9o erably in extension of the front end 0 the retort-opening, and referably is slightly tapered and enlarge or flared toward its mouth, as shown in Fig. 1. The retort is reduced in area or. capacity from its front to ward its rear, preferably bybeing divided into a number of sections or chambers, of unequal widths or cross-sections, at their bottoms as indicated b the reference numerals 1, 2 and 3, but w ich are of the same width above the central line of the conveyer. The bottom of each section is horizontal from front to rear, and the bottom of the retort is provided with steps or flanges a, leading from one section or chamber into the next the steps or flanges being intermediate the sections and uniting the same. The ste s or flanges are preferably rearwardly an upwardly inclined, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The rear wall A of the retort is inclined rearwardly and upwardly, and a series of defleeting-plates a is placed transversely within the retort intermediate its ends at suitable intervals and inclined at a proximately the same angle as the rear wall A. The plates are secured across the retort above the steps or flanges, and ap roximately in extension of the upper ends t iereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These plates are preferablysectional, each half being cast integrally with its corresponding section of the retort, as shown in Fig. 3, and the op ositely disposed members of each pair are 0 such width as to close the retort transversely at their respective lines of junction, except for a port roviding a passage for such fuel as is supp ied to those sections or chambers of the retort as are in the rear thereof. The port or passage in the plates is provided by an arch a made by cutting away the inner edge of the plates at the bottom. The deflecting-plates also provide supports for the longitudlnal V-shaped casting or back-bone D, which is secured in corresponding grooves in the plates, and to which is secured by bolts or other devices a series of twyer-blocks B having lateral openm s.

The reference letter E represents a screwconveyer, the flights E of which are preferably mounted on a round sleeve 6 fitting a.

square shaft, which is provided at its front end with a reduced bearing portion'journaled in suitable roller bearings e, which are arranged in a journal-box e secured to the body of the hopper at its front. The box is provided with a chamber or recess 6 in its rear face concentric with the bearing of the shaft, and suitable thrust-plates e and e are disposed within this recess and provided with intermediate bearing-balls e". The plate 6 bears against the shoulder formed by re v ducing the end of theshaft, and the organization rovides an end-thrust bearing by which t e shaft is enabled to carry a heavy load. The shaft is provided outside the bearing-box with suitable operating means of any desired type, and has bearings with and against the arches against the stress of the load of fuel, .the arrangement referably being such that the flights fill t e arches leaving only the required clearance.

. The conveyer E is constructed to have its greatest carrying capacity immediately at and within the mouth of the retort, and preferably has a reduced carrying capacity in each direction from this portion of maximum capacity. For this purpose the conveyer is formed to taper preferably through- 1 out the length of the conduit or neck, as shown at 6 and this .is preferably accomplished by gradually reducing the diameter of the flights from the mouth of the retort toward the hopper. The mouth. section e of the conveyer is preferably formed with a hub e taperin in both directions from its center,'the flig t's thereof being of approximately uniform diameter within the first section or chamber 1 of the retort, and sweeping the longitudinally horizontal floor thereof to provide a maximum carrying capacity within such section or chamber; The conveyer is reduced in carrying capacity at the first arch, preferably by reducing the diameter 'of the fii hts at that point, whereby a portion of the fuel will be deposited in the chamber 1, and a reduced quantity will be carried through the first arch into the second, chamber 2. The carrying capacityof the conveyer withinthe chamber 2 is uniform b dinal line thereof and the uniform diameter of the conveyer flights therein. The conveyer is again reduced in carrying capacity, preferably by again reducing the diameter of its flights, at the second arch leading to the chamber 3 whereby aportion of the fuel carried from the first arch will be deposited in the second chamber and a reduced quantity will be carried from the second arch into the third chamber, in which likewise the conveyer is of uniform carrying capacity throughout the length thereof and thefloor of which is horizontal from front torear.

The relative arrangement of the flightsections ap ears in Fig. 4, which being on the line 4-4 0 Fig. 1 shows the spiral line 1' as indicating 'the conveyer-flights within the flared neck and the outer development of that line as indicating the flights in the chamber 1. The numerals 2 and 3 indicate the diameters of the flights in chambers 2 and 3 respectively.

. Y- 8 reason of the horlzontal floor 1n the long1tu-- The reduced diameters of the conveyerflights are coincident with the steps a and plates 0 whereby the carrying ca acity of the conveyer is reduced in steps rom the mouth of the retort to the rear, and the carrying. capacity within each chamber is uni form throughout the length thereof. By this construction the fuel is de osited in the art thereof'passing through one chamber i nto the chamber next in the rear thereof, and

the quantity in each chamber is uniform throughout its length, as the carrying capacity of the conveyer is uniform therein. The chambers have diflferent capacities owing to the successive reductions of the widths thereof at their bottoms toward the rear of the machine, which vary their capacity or area corresponding with the portions of the decreased carrying capacity of the conveyer therein.

By the construction of the bearings for the conveyer, I reduce the friction of the parts appreciably, which is a desirable result in machines of this ty e, where the load is very heavy and has muc inherent friction. The deflecting-plates and inclined rear-end i duit, of a screw-conveyer extending through the conveyer from the hopper of the retort 5 insures the sup ly of the maximum quantity of fuel at t e mouth of the retort or at this place of initial distribution.

The part A furnishes the fuel sup ort or magazine, and i as'much as the com ustion occurs at its top in the region of the twyerblocks, it constitutes the retort or furnace proper.

. The twyer-blocks B and B are supported directly upon the retort, and these several series have a common source of air-supply located preferably at the rear of the furnace. The pipe I), leading from a suitable source of air-supply, is extended into a rectangular discharge openingb, the length of which corresponds approximately with the length of a chamber or passage 6 on the underside of the rear of the retort and to which it is suitably bolted. The with the several series of blocks, and air supto the twyer-openings.

Having described my invention What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In an underfeed furnace, the combination with a retort, a conduit leading therefrom, and a hopper connected with said consaid conduit into said retort, said conveyer the hopper to the retort, and of decreasing carrying capacity within theretort.

2. In an underfeed furnace, the combination with a retort, having inclined sides, a hopper, and a connecting horizontal conduit, of a screw-conveyer extending from said hopper through said conduit into said retort,

said conveyer having an increasin carrying capacity within the conduit and a ecreasing carryingcapacity within the retort 3. In {an underfeed furnace, the combination with a retort. havin a transversely curved\bottom and incline sides, a hopper, and a conduit leading from said hop er to re'tort, said conveyer having its maximum carrying capacity adjacent the mouth of the retort and reduced carrying capacity on each side thereof.

4. In an underfeed furnace, the combination with a retort having a longitudinally assage' b communicates plied from the pipe I) is thereby distributed being of increasing carrying capacity fromthe retort, of a conveyer in the condu1t and of successively reduced capacities, and a feed conduit, of a screwconveyer having its maxi:

mum carrying capacity in the first chamber and ortions of reduced carrying capacities Withm the succeeding chambers and the feed conduit.-

6. In an underfeedfurnace, the combination with a retort composed of chambers of successively reduced ca acities, deflectingplates between the cham ers, and a feed conduit, of a screw-conveyer having portions of successively reduced carrying ca acities within the respective chambers and of 'increasing carrying capacity in the conduit.

7. In an underfeed furnace, the combination with a retort having a bottom formed in stepped horizontal sections, and deflectingplates between the sections, of a screw-conveyer havingan enlar ed hub within the first section and whose ights are reduced in diameter at opposite sides of such hub.

.being cut awayto form arched ports of successively reduced area, and a screw-conveyer havin its maximum carrying capacity adjacentjt e mouth of the retort and being of decreasing carrying. capacity at. opposite sides of its portion of maximum carrying capacity.

9. In an underfeed furnace, the combination of a retort, deflecting-plates therein having ports, a conduit leading thereto, a screwconveyer in said conduit and retort, roller bearings therefor, and an endthrust for the conveyer consisting ofa pair of plates and i rollers interposed between the plates.

10. In an underfeed furnace, the combination of a retort, deflecting-plates therein having ports, a conduit leading thereto, a screwo conveyer in said conduit and retort, anendthrust bearing device and journal bearing for said shaft in the conduit, the flights of the conveyer bearing in the ports of the plates.

11., In an underfeed furnace, the combina- 5 tion of a retort, a screw-conveyer therein, central and side twyer-blocks sup orted on the retort, and an air-passage in t c rear of the retort leading to t e blocks.

12. In an underfeed furnace, the combination of a retort, a screw-conveyer therein, a series of twyer-blocks on each side therepf, a

central series of twyer-blocks supported on.

the retort, an air-supplypassage across the rear of the retort, and an air-supply extended into a rectangular opening corresponding in area with the passage.

.13. In an underfeed furnace, a retort composed of longitudinal sections each having. a

transversely curved bottom and an out-13o wardly inclined unobstructed side, the rear walls of the sections being upwardly and backwardly inclined, and each section having a plate which with the plate of the other section forms a deflector.

14. In an underfeed furnace, a retort composed of Ion itudinal sections and having transverse de eating-plates portions of which are formed on each section, and upwardly and backwardly inclined rear walls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOEL EDGAR. JONES.

Witnesses:

GEORGE R. HARBAUGH, J. McRoBERTs. 

